Results 541-560 of 4,955 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (9 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The new Programme for Government emphasises supporting intergenerational farm succession. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, highlights that ensuring generational renewal in farming is vital for the sector’s long-term viability and social sustainability in rural Ireland. There are a number of supports for generational renewal currently available to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (9 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine funds the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme, which provides grant aid to farmers to conserve and repair derelict farm buildings and related structures. The main goal of the scheme is to preserve traditional farm buildings that enhance the character of our national landscape and hold significant heritage value, while keeping them in active...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (9 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: This response is framed in the context of local authority dog shelters, on the assumption that this is where the Deputy’s focus of enquiry lies. Policy responsibility for dog control was transferred to my Department from 1st June 2025, in accordance with commitments under the Programme for Government. My Department is working with the Department of Rural and Community Development...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Dogs (9 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The ban on XL Bully type dogs was announced in 2024 in the interest of public safety following a series of serious attacks. The ban was brought in over two stages to give XL Bully type dog owners who wished to keep their dog, the time to obtain a 'Certificate of Exemption'. A ‘Certificate of Exemption’ cannot be granted for an XL Bully that has not yet been neutered or deemed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (9 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 came into operation on 6 March 2014. Offences under the Act may be prosecuted in court by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, local authorities and members of An Garda Síochána. The number of prosecutions taken under the Act at the suit of the Minister, in the format as requested by the Deputy, is set out below in tabular...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding (9 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 provides a robust regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments. Following a public consultation, revised guidelines for dog breeding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Sales (9 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Department issues an exporter certificate for all commercial movement of dogs. The type of certification is dependent on whether the destination is to other EU countries or non-EU countries. A Commercial movement of dogs is defined where a dog, or dogs, is either travelling unaccompanied, or is travelling for the use of trading, or for shows, sporting events or where an owner has more...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Dogs (9 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: From 1 June 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG). However, local authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Acts, including enforcement. Statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences and the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 689 together. My Department did not use the services of a make-up artist, hairdresser, stylist or personal shopper during the years in question. Additionally, there was no expenditure on hairstyling, make-up, personal grooming or general cosmetics during those years. There is no mechanism within my Department for officials to claim expenses in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Advertising (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by the Department and a reply will be forwarded within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 691 and 692 together. My Department has a Communications Unit which deals with a wide range of external communications matters, including press engagements, media events and public relations. My Department has engaged with companies that commonly provide public relations or media consultancy services and this the details of this are provided in the table...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Invasive Species Policy (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is responsible for overseeing the control and the prevention of the spread of certain weeds under the Noxious Weeds Act, 1936. Under the Act, it is an offence not to prevent the spread of these weeds, which includes ragwort. My Department wrote to all Local Authorities, including Kerry County Council, in May 2025, reminding them of their obligations under the legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The question of whether to accept a particular horse registration application is a matter for Horse Sport Ireland. Horse Sport Ireland may be contacted directly, at info@horsesportireland.ie or (045) 850 800).

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together. Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bTB levels have continued to deteriorate, herd incidence has increased from 4.94% in 2023 to 6.04% in 2024. As of 29th June 2025, over a 12-month period we had a herd incidence of 6.40% with over 43,290 reactors. This disease is having an impact on our...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted a grant aid application for a roller on 8 July 2024 under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS), which is a measure under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3). My Department issued an approval letter to proceed with the investment on 28 November 2024 and a claim for payment was subsequently received on 11 February 2025. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information requested is not readily available in the format sought by the Deputy. A response providing the requested information will be issued to the Deputy in 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously and responds to any reports of alleged animal cruelty or legislative non-compliance. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare, for all animals. My Department is aware of this case but does not comment on individual cases. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department operates a wide range of schemes to support farmers in their farming businesses, including those with annual incomes under € 20,000. Funding is provided through Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 schemes operated under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The many measures/schemes within the CSP have been designed to ensure that farmers, irrespective of scale, enterprise or land...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: An Independent Review Group was established in 2023 to review the supports available to Ash forest owners with Ash Dieback. The Group submitted a report with their findings to my Department and in response Government approval was secured for an Ash Dieback Action Plan which addresses all 13 of the Review Group's recommendations. It provides for, among other things, an additional...